The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Friday, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government until it complies with court orders.

The court described the state government’s actions as a “flagrant disobedience to court orders.”

A five-man panel of justices unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the validity of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule as Speaker.

Additionally, the Supreme Court nullified the recent local government elections in the state, ruling that the election grossly violated the Electoral Act.

Following the verdict, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, addressed reporters, commending the judiciary for upholding the rule of law.

“If you allow this, one day one member will constitute an assembly and there is nothing you can do, it is unheard of. We must commend the judiciary for being bold to say this impunity must not be allowed,” Wike said.

“You failed to follow the Electoral Act in terms of conducting local government elections. People were hailing him (Governor Siminalayi Fubara) ‘Yes you have done well.’”

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, also criticized the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for supporting Governor Fubara in the ongoing crisis.

“I hope they will also hail him today. I hope the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum will also hail him today. Supreme Court has come out to say enough is enough, we must not truncate our democracy,” he added.

Wike further stated that the legal battle, which has lasted for over 15 months, has now been conclusively settled by the highest court in the land.

He asserted that the only possible appeal left is “to God.”

“People are saying Wike Wike, It’s not about me, how can a man demolish the edifice of the state assembly and take his fraction to his house, it is unheard of.

“For me, it is happiness for Nigerians as well as Rivers people, the impunity must stop. You can’t allow such to happen. We cannot allow anyone to truncate the democracy of the country,” he stated.

The FCT Minister also emphasized that legal competence, not the number of lawyers hired, determines the outcome of cases.

“It is not about hiring 40 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, it is about upholding the rule of law and having competent people to handle the case,” he concluded.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he is punishing her for refusing his advances.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed her allegations against Akpabio, stating that her husband was a witness and that she had evidence, including printed screenshots of their conversations.

She challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to retrieve their chat records, alleging that Akpabio frequently contacted her via WhatsApp.

“My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023, when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday.”

“Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone,” she stated.

She also linked her ongoing dispute with Akpabio to her push for a motion on the investigation of corruption in Ajaokuta Steel Company, claiming that he repeatedly blocked it.

“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.

“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, ‘Senate President, you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion.’ As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘Sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important.’ Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.

“He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy.’ At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this.’ He said, ‘Well, the ball is in your court.’ I left his office.

“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”

Her allegations come amid an ongoing dispute with Akpabio, which escalated after she protested the unauthorized change of her Senate seat.

The matter was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), for a review within two weeks.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio.

Efforts to get a response from Akpabio’s media aide, Jackson Udom, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to multiple calls from Daily Gazette on Friday morning.

The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has ruled that all members of the Lagos State House of Assembly must be joined as parties in the legal battle initiated by former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who is challenging his removal from office.

Presiding over the case, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro also adjourned proceedings until March 7 to hear all pending applications related to the matter.

The decision comes as 35 lawmakers supporting the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, appeared in court for the hearing.

Obasa, who was removed by at least 36 of his colleagues on January 13, 2025, while he was reportedly out of the country, had filed the lawsuit on February 14, naming the Assembly and Meranda as defendants.

At today’s session, lawmakers backing Meranda submitted an application to be joined as defendants in the case.

Representing Meranda and her supporters is a team of senior legal practitioners led by Prof. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

Other counsels include Mr. Olu Daramola (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), Dr. Dada Awosika (SAN), Prof. Dayo Amokaye (SAN), Mr. Mofe Oyetibo (SAN), Mr. Olumide Oyewole, and Mr. Wunmi Okeremi.

The political tension in the Lagos State House of Assembly escalated on Thursday as former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to the Assembly complex, insisting he remains the rightful leader of the legislative body.

Obasa, who was removed from office on January 13, 2025, arrived at the Assembly accompanied by a team of heavily armed security personnel.

His unexpected appearance came weeks after his former deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was elected as the new Speaker.

Speaking at the Lagos State High Court, where Obasa had filed a legal challenge against his removal, Meranda strongly criticized his actions, calling them inappropriate.

“I think to me that was just a show of shame because in our job we have numbers that form quorum,” she said, reacting to Obasa’s presence at the Assembly.

“So if you are sitting with three or four members, you are only doing theatre.”

Despite his removal, Obasa has continued to assert that due process was not followed in the decision to oust him.

“I have always said that I have never been removed from office. I am not against any removal,” Obasa stated.

“If you are going to do that, you must follow the rules of the House. It is constitutional to impeach and remove. You have to follow the dictates of the Constitution.”

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Rivers State House of Assembly faction led by Martin Amaewhule, declaring it the legitimate legislative body in the state.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Agim, a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji upheld Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers, affirming their right to resume legislative duties without interference.

The court also issued a significant directive restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from disbursing Rivers State’s budgetary allocations until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted House of Assembly.

Justice Agim criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions, stating that his decision to demolish the House of Assembly complex was unlawful and driven by fears of impeachment.

Additionally, the Supreme Court overturned an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, which had ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over cases involving Rivers State funds.

The panel further ordered Fubara and the Rivers State Government to pay N5 million in costs to the Rivers State House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule.

President Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence amid the ongoing crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a tacit approval of anti-democratic tactics aimed at undermining lawmakers’ decisions.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku strongly condemned what he referred to as “backdoor tactics” and the deployment of state-backed security forces to overturn the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite his ousting by an overwhelming majority.

Earlier on Thursday, Obasa forcefully entered the Lagos Assembly complex, insisting that he remained the rightful Speaker, despite strong opposition from most lawmakers.

Atiku expressed concern that Tinubu’s refusal to address the situation raises doubts about his commitment to democratic values, especially in light of recent claims by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, that the president selectively wields political power for personal interests.

“Despite his undisputed influence over Lagos politics, President Bola Tinubu has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. His refusal to address the crisis suggests a tacit endorsement of the anti-democratic maneuvers aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of Assembly members.

“This silence is deafening and deeply concerning,” Atiku said.

He further accused Tinubu of turning Lagos politics into a struggle between “the noble values of Omoluabi—rooted in integrity, fairness, and public service—and the crass, strong-arm tactics of Area Boy politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.”

Atiku urged the president to publicly denounce any moves that could undermine democratic principles in Lagos and ensure that due process is followed.

“Nigeria’s democracy was hard-fought and must not be undermined by those who should be its foremost guardians. We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute in defending the sanctity of our democratic institutions,” he stated.